Differential mechanism.



A. COLEMAN.

DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM. APELIGATION FILED s mns, 1912.

Patented May 13, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR COLEMAN, OF HIGGINS, TEXAS.

DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM.

Application filed September 5, 1912.

To, all whom it may concern:

-"Be it known that I, ARTHUR COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Higgins, in the county of Lipscomb and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Differential Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to diiferential mechanism for automobiles or other vehicles. l I

One object is to provide a differential mechanism embodying a worm gear connection 50 associated with other parts of the differential mechanism that coasting of the automobile or other machine is permitted with the worm gear mechanism in mesh.

Another object resides in the provision of a. differential mechanism for automobiles or other vehicles embodying a worm gear associated with other parts of the mechanism with the differential mechanism operable for connection and disconnection with the driving shaft of the vehicle under. ordinary conditions or to permit coasting without throwing the worm gear mechanism out 0t mesh.

A still further object resides in the provision of a differential mechanism einbody ing a beveled gear mechanism and also a worm gear mechanism cooperatively associated with the beveled gear mechanism with clutches arranged at the difi'erential mechanism casing for operation to connect and disconnect the differential mechanism from the driving shaft of the-vehicle and for throwing the worm gear mechanism alternately into and out of operative condr tion.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sac rificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention. Fig.1. 2 is a face view of the worm gear mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the squared portion of one of the axle sectionslllustrating one of the mechanisms. for

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteuiuay 13, 1913.

Serial No. 718,746.

throwing the differential mechanism into and out of. operative connection with the.

axle.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings the reference characters 10 and 11 indicate the sections of the rear axleof an automobile or other vehicle, the inner ends of the sections abutting in the usual manner for customary purposes,

as clearly shown in the drawings, with the Y abutting ends embraced by a loose sleeve 12. Loosely mounted on the sleeve 12 are driven beveled gears 13 and 14 of a difl'erential mechanism, having their hubs 15 fitted loosely on said sleeve 12 and projecting through the openings 16 in the sectional casing 17 with the edges of the casing sections Where they'form said openings 16 preferably thickened and adapted to fitvin thev grooves 18 of the hubs 15 to lock the gears 13 and 14 against undue lateralplay in the casing 17.

The outer end of each hub 15 is provided with a notch 19 adapted to receive thefpmjecting lug 20 of the clutch member 21 sleeved on the squared portions 2201 the axle'sections 10 and 11 and which clutch' members 21 are arranged to have their lugs 20 normally seated in the notches '19 of the hubsof the gears 13 and 14' through the instrumentality of helical or other s rings 23 which bear at one end against t e clutch members 21 and at their outer ends against collars 24 fixedly secured in any suitable manner to the axle sections ;10;.and 11, Thcseclutch members 21are each provided with a groove in which loosely'fits a ring 25 having lugs or pins 25 which are embraced by the forked levers 26 extending throughand pivoted at 27 in the casings 28;

tive connection with the transu'iission mccln anism of an automobile or other i hicle.

In the use of tI'WOllll shaft and Worm gear connection in a ditl'erential mechanism for automobiles or other vehicles wherein they are in .ionstant mesh provision must be made for wasting purposes, in that this is at present an essential characteristic of ve hicles of the character stated. In the pres ent instance, I have the 13 and '14; tugether with the worm 29 loosely mounted on the axle sections 10 and 11 and I pro vide a suitable clutch mechanism adapted to connect and disconnect the driven gears 13 and let to the axle. \Vhcn the clutch mechanism is in operative positions the gears are clutched to the driving axle and propulsion is obtained in the usual manner. When it is desired to coast, it is simply necessary to shift the clutch members 21 outwardly on the squared portions of the axle'sectio'ns 10 and 11 to release the lugs 20 of the clutch members 21 from the notches '19 of the hubs of the gears 13 and 14 when, as the result, all of the diiterential gear mechanism is dis connected from the driving axle of the machine, and notwithstanding the fact that the worm 29 and worm shaft 33 arein mesh, the vehicle may coast down grade without the necessity of throwing the worm gear shaft out of mesh vith the worm 29.

From the foregoing it, will be seen that I provide a simple, economical, inexpensive and durable differential mechanism for antomobile or t-her vehicles embodying a worm gear connection and yet permitting of coasting with the differential mechanism operable for connection or disconnection with the axle of the vehicle by the instrumentality of clutches closely associated with, or arranged adjacent to, the gear mechanism rather than at the wheels of the machine. In other Words, my improved dilierential mechanisl'n' is so constructed and arranged that the ditlierential mechanism and clutch mechanisms are coiiperatively connected to gether with all of the mechanism located midway between the ends of the axle.

that is claimed is:

1. The combination of a casing, an axle composed of sections whose inner ends pro ject into and abut within said casing, each axle having a squared portion adjacent its inner end, a sleeve projecting through said casing and en'ibracing the inner ends of the axle sections between their squared portions to couple the inner ends of the axle sections together, a second sleeve which mounted within said casing and which enibraces said lirst-gnentioned sleeve intermediate the ends of the latter, beveled gears confined within the casing fitted loosely on the first-named sleeve and engaging the ends of the second-meationed sleeve each of. said gears being provided with a hub projecting through said casing, ttlt'lt hub having a notch in its outer end, a worm gear in the casing journaled on the second-mentioned sleeve and provided with openings, beveled gearsmounted in the openings of the worm gear and adapted to mesh with the first-named gears, a worm shaft projecting into said casing and having constant mesh therein with said worm gear, clutch members mounted on the squared portions of the axle sections and provided each with a lug adapted to fit 1n the notch of the corresponding hub of the first-named gears to operatively connect the gears to the axle, collars secured on the axle sections, springs between said collars, and the clutch members to hold them normally in operative relation with the hubs of the first-named gears, levers having connection with said clutch members to shift the latterbut of operative relation with the hubs of the first named gears so as to disconnect the gear mechanism from operative'conneotion with the axleto permit coasting with all of said gears constantly in mesh, and casings embracing said collars and said clutch members and into which said operating levers project.

2. The combination of a casing, axle sections whose inner ends project into'the casing and abut therein, each axle section having a squared portion adjacent its inner end, a sleeve projecting through said casing and embracing the inner ends of the axle sections between said squared portions to couple the inner ends of the axle sections together, a second sleeve which is mounted within said casing and which embraces said first-mentioned sleeve intermediate the ends of the latter, beveled gears in the casing fitted loosely on the first-named sleeve and engaging the ends of the second-mentioned sleeve each of said gears being provided with a hub projecting through said casing, each hub having a notch in its outer end, a worm gear in the casing journaled on the second- ,mentioned sleeve and provided with openings, beveled gears mounted in the openings of the worm gear and adapted to mesh constantly with the first-named. gears, a worm shaft having constant me h with said Worm gear, clutch members mounted on the squared portions ot the axle sections and provided each with a lug adaptcd'to fit nor mally in the notch of the corresponding hub of the tirst named gears to operatively con nect the gears to the axle, and levers having connection with said clutch members to shift the latter out of operative relation with the hubs of the tirshnamed gca rs so as to disconnect the gear mechanism from operative connection with the axle to permit coasting with all of said gears constantly in mesh.

3. The combination of a casing, axle sections whose inner end abut within the easing, beveled gears mounted within the easing, a worm gear mounted within the casing between said beveled gears, beveled pinions carried thereby which mesh with the aforesaid beveled gears, the worm gear and the beveled gears being mounted loosely on said axle sections, a worm shaft projecting into said casing and meshing with the worm gear to operate the latter and drive the beveled gears, the beveled gears having hubs projecting through said casing, and clutch members arranged for sliding movement on the axle sections into direct engagement with said hubs and out of engagement therewith to respectively connect the gears to the axle iections and to disconnect the same thererom.

4. The combination of a casing, axle sections whose inner ends abut within the casing, a sleeve embracing the abutting ends of the axle sections, beveled gears mounted loosely on said sleeve within said casing and each being provided with a hub which projects through the casing, a sleeve mounted on the first-named sleeve between said beveled gears, a Worm gear mounted on the second sleeve between said beveled gears, beveled pinions carried thereby adapted to mesh with the beveled gears to drive the latter, a worm shaft projecting into the casing and having constant mesh with said worm gear to drive the latter, and clutch mechanism arranged adjacent the casing for direct engagement with the hubs of the beveled gears to connect and disconnect the gear mechanism from said axle sections, the worm shaft being in constant mesh with the worm gear whether the clutch members con- 'mesh with the aforesaid beveled gears to drive the latter, a worm shaft projecting into the casing and having constant mesh with said worm gear to drive the latter, and clutch mechanism arranged for direct engagement with said beveled gears to connect and disconnect the gear mechanism from said axle section with the worm shaft in constant mesh with the worm gear whether the clutch mechanisms connect or disconnect the gear mechanism and said axle sections. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR COLEMAN. Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, GEO. C. SHOEMAKER. 

